The Launch Pad for Software Technology Startups

CodeLaunch Event Countdown

2014 Pitch Day Winner
Overall Winner – Tropus, eCharts, Shane Platt
See our History Page for more winners and judges results from Pitch Day

About CodeLaunch

CodeLaunch is an annual concept competition and pitch event for Embryonic Stage software technology startups. The CodeLaunch Pitch Event is the culmination of the annual competition and a showcasing of the best competitors. If you have an “idea for an app” and nothing more you are qualified to apply. If you have experience in business and passion for entrepreneurism you are likely to advance. CodeLaunch will continue to grow each year and has become an event with widespread interest from the startup community including Angel Investors, Venture Capital, and other entrepreneurial organizations and leaders.

The Selection Process

After the application deadline our team of software architects and business analysts reviews all of the applications. At this stage we are looking for basic viability and whether the project suits our technical skillset, but also the business acumen and background of the applicant(s). Once we make the first cut we will then take a deeper look at each of the remaining applications and score them on 5 or 6 categories on a 1 to 5 scale. We take that ranking from top to bottom and identify the competitors we want to bring in and meet face to face, and alternates. Once we identify those we will bring you in to give us your best timed pitch and undergo a Q&A session. In 2014 the pitch time limit was 9 minutes. Based on our impression of your pitch and other factors we will then announce those who we want to “pitch” at the CodeLaunch event in late summer. The announcements are made via email and Facebook and Twitter, and the process takes about two months from deadline to CodeLaunch.

2015 Schedule

Milestone

Date

Competitor Applications Deadline

May 31 at 11:59pm

Quarter Finalists Announced

June 16

Semi Finalists Announced

July 13

Finalists Announced

July 31

• Finalists’ Business Plan Workshop

August 4

• Finalists’ Effective Pitch Workshop

August 11

CodeLaunch Pitch Day

August 13, 2:45pm.

CodeLaunch Ignites Startups

This competition is a venue for embryonic stage startups to get their idea launched. Anyone from individuals with nothing more than a great idea, to sophisticated groups who already have a prototype, designs, business plans, and prior investors. We encourage each of these and everyone in between to apply.

Although Code Authority is seeking to find intriguing investments, we also want to help those who advance partially through the process and those who we don’t choose to invest in. We want to help everyone who participates improve their chances to find seed funding. There are benefits of advancing at every stage.

Why CodeLaunch

Our goal is to populate the audience with angels and representatives of the entrepreneurship community who are capable of providing seed capital to any or all of the finalists. Immediately after the event a networking function allows the competitors to meet and greet these people.

Competitors who advance will receive benefits at every stage including recognition which may help them promote their concept by recognizing their achievements in the CodeLaunch program. We also want to protect your intellectual property. Each application includes an NDA with Code Authority, Inc. Competitors are not required to give away their secret sauce during their pitch should they make the finals.”

The judges will also collectively assign awards. Award winners will receive trophies and digital collateral which can be used to recognize the achievement.

Best Pitch Presentation:
Awarded regardless of other variables or attributes, strictly on the polish and communication eﬀectiveness.

Overall Winner

Although Code Authority wants to find startups with the business acumen and experience to take our contribution and make it a success, business acumen is not required. The more experience you have in the subject matter the more likely your concept will advance. People with no acumen and very interesting new ideas have advanced to the finals in the past so don’t be dismayed from applying.

Code Authority will choose one or more competitors who are designated as “Overall Winners” at the Pitch Day Event. Winners will be offered a specific package of benefits and be offered a customized partnership with Code Authority.

This partnership will include a collection of services in exchange for a minority stake in the startup. If an agreement is reached between the parties these winners will benefit from a significant amount of free custom software design, development, and/or website development and hosting services. We hope to choose winners for whom these services will be enough to “launch” the startup. Code Authority will become a long term partner and investor in these startups.